A 2019 San Diego State University study found that among the top 100 grossing films, only 13% of female characters in their 40s or older had substantial speaking roles, compared to 34% of male characters in the same age range.
Hollywood is catching up, but European cinema never entirely forgot the value of mature women. French cinema, in particular, celebrates the "femme d'un certain âge" as the pinnacle of allure and intelligence. milftoon lemonade movie part 16 27 exclusive
Three interconnected forces perpetuate the marginalization of mature women: A 2019 San Diego State University study found